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Commonly Asked Questions and Concerns Childcare - I'm interested in returning to school. However, I'm a single-parent, or my partner and I both work. Will I have access to childcare? Yes you will. Children of St.Thomas University students are eligible for admission to the College Hill Daycare Cooperative. Located at 850 Montgomery Street, the daycare is just a short walk from St. Thomas. It accepts children from six months to eight years of age and is open Monday to Friday from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm. All staff have early childhood education training at either the community college or university level. Apply early since the number of openings is limited. For more information, contact Wendi Lunney at (506) 458-2883 or e-mail chdc@unb.ca. She will explain the application procedure and arrange for a tour of the facility. As well, there are other childcare facilities located near the campus: Call for more information. Fitting In - Is there a way for me to network with other mature students? Yes, you may join our list of STARS. STARS is a support group that brings adult students together and makes them aware of issues and services that affect them. STARS — the St. Thomas Association of Adult Returning Students — also provides information on stress management, social activities, and academics. The group often refers adult learners to other campus services and is concerned with their financial needs. They have become involved in orientation by hosting a reception to help adult learners feel at home when they first arrive on campus. Jim Wilson is a former president of STARS. "I had many of the concerns common to adult students," he says of his early days as a student. "I wondered if I could handle the workload — there's always the fear of failing. I quickly discovered I was capable and that my life experience really contributed a lot to my school experience." What is Jim's final word on adult students? "The leap of faith they take in coming back to school will be well rewarded." Making the Big Decision - What options do I have? Adult learners have plenty of options when it comes to registration. They can enter as non-degree students, which means they'll earn university credit for their work, but not toward any particular degree. They also have the option of paying half the normal tuition fee to audit a course, in which case they're not required to do any of the assignments, but they don't receive any credit either. Most students are advised to register for a degree programme and take courses for credit, since those who follow a programme of study will get more out of their time here than those who simply take a collection of unrelated courses. "I would advise any mature student returning to university
studies on a part-time or full-time basis to meet with the individuals
at the admissions office at St. Thomas University. These people are
invaluable, for they are able to provide information about the programmmes
that are offered at St. Thomas. Furthermore, they can answer Joe Anne Hunter, BA01, BSW02
Something else to consider is the amount of time you'll be able to devote to your studies and what you will be able to afford by way of tuition. Remember that if you plan to take more than two courses per semester, you'll be considered a full-time student and full-time tuition fees will apply. If you are 60 years of age or older, you can apply for a rebate of 50 percent of your tuition. Otherwise, the normal fees apply. You May Still Have Some Questions We've tried to anticipate some of the more important questions you may have as an adult learner. We've also suggested some key contacts and, since we take a lot of pride in our tradition of face-to-face, one-on-one service, we encourage you to get in touch with these people to clear up any grey areas, to clarify anything that still isn't clear.
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